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Tributes paid to Barrow man who died in Thailand

SADLY MISSED: Sean Flanagan, who died in prison in Pattaya, Thailand. This picture was taken shortly after he was arrested SUBMITTED

Sean Flanagan, who split his time between Barrow and Thailand, died some time in the last two weeks after he was arrested in the city of Pattaya on March 21.

A story in local newspaper the Pattaya Daily News told how Mr Flanagan, who was in his 50s, had been arrested after he went into a pawn shop and took a moped.

Mr Flanagan was charged after driving the moped to a nearby hotel, but denied the theft, the newspaper reported.

Friend Steven Strefford(corr), 53, from Walney, said he heard last Tuesday of Mr Flanagan’s death.

He said: “One of my mates rang me straight away when he got the news. He got done for nicking a moped and then banged up.”

Mr Flanagan, a former St Bernard’s pupil, had spent a lot of time in Thailand, where his girlfriend lived, Mr Strefford said.

He said: “It’s a hell of a shame. I have known Sean a lot of years and he was one of those guys who, if you wanted a hand with anything, he would be there for you. We had some good laughs, we used to go out fishing together and he was an absolutely blinding lad. I couldn’t believe it when I heard. He was just a cracking guy.”

Although he returned to Barrow frequently to see friends and pick up work, Mr Flanagan had travelled all over Asia, Africa and Europe, his friend said.

Mr Strefford added: “I tried to keep in touch with him, but he was always jaunting all over the place. He would always be back here for two or three months and get a bit of work somewhere and then be off out there somewhere.

“He would always come back to see his mates, he will be sadly missed.

“He did anything and everything, he could always turn his hand to anything. If there was job to do, he would do it.”

A spokesman for the Foreign Office confirmed a UK national had died in Pattaya.

He said: “I can confirm we are aware of the death of a British national in Pattaya, Thailand.

“We are in contact with the family and are providing appropriate consulate assistance.”

Members of Mr Flanagan’s family did not wish to comment when contacted by the Evening Mail.

Have your say

last time i seen ya, we sat up in the royal alnight, me on the quitar and u on the bongos, cant remember the last time i laughed like it. proper comedian and all round diamond, u will be missed mate. still got the ginger baker book u lent me 4 the train home, its called hellraiser, wonder what the title of yours would have been!! ha!! it would have been a best seller.their lucky to have u up there mate, massive loss to us down here though.just know that wherever you are, you and every1 around ya will be laffin."SHINE ON U CRAZY DIAMOND" x